The Infield
OSU returns a lot of experience and production in the infield this year. Colin Brueggemann got a 6th year thanks to Diego Pavia and the new JUCO rule, Meola got a medical hardship, AO is back from injury and ready to go and Brock Thompson is ready to use the momentum from last spring to spring board his 2nd year on campus into something special.
The Cowboys also have some talented Freshman to add to the mix in Terrance Bowen, Ty Kennedy, Sebastian Norman and Deacon Pomeroy. They also added a JUCO transfer from Iowa Western Evan Saunders.
Bowen is a very smooth middle infielder that got action against Cowley in the fall, and makes things look a lot easier than they are. Kennedy is on the smaller side, but is talented, super fundamental and absolutely knows how to play the game of baseball. Norman is an absolute beast! He’s big and physical, and he’s fast, and he can absolutely clobber baseballs. Pomeroy is a multi-talented big dude out of Topeka that is has very “plug and play” size and skill. Saunders comes from Iowa Western, who produced Brayden Smith and Tanner Krietemeyer, and, like those two, he can hit. Tons of power, good bat to ball, can play any infield position.
Garrett Shull, super talented Sophomore has also played both 1st base and 3rd base in the off season. Shull was injured much of last year, but when he was healthy showed how talented he is. And, that NO moment is too big for him. He came through in some super clutch moments, and finding a permanent home for him is a matter of when and where, not “if”.
*** Click on the names of the following players, then click latest on the top to access video from scrimmage action at field level, and in depth analysis of each player. ***
The Outfield
Nothing more can be said about Kollin Ritchie other than this dude has MASSIVE skills. He’s been playing Center Field, and should be a premier player in College Baseball. Kudos to Coach Holliday and staff for being able to keep him, and kudos to Ritchie for staying committed to OSU when he could have went anywhere he wanted and got paid.
Alex Conover has caught some this offseason, but is primarily an outfielder and built some momentum at the end of last year. His success had peaks and valleys last year, but this dude is an “elite” worker, an incredible athlete and should be adjusted to the D1 level.
Wentworth is a transfer from Clemson that OSU was in on out of High School and scooped up when he entered the portal. Wentworth is big and physical, and pitches as well, and is highly motivated to get this team back to Omaha. He WILL make a big impact on this years team.
The freshman outfielders are fast, they’re talented and they make no bones about it, they came to OSU to compete for a starting position on DAY ONE. Essex had TWO inside the park homeruns in the Fall, Wallace will remind you of a small Mike Trout type, Pladson can flat hit and Indomenico has a “bat to ball” game, along with sneaky power and bigtime baseball IQ in terms of swing decisions and how to execute the finer parts of the game.
*** Click on the names of the following players, then click latest on the top to access video from scrimmage action at field level, and in depth analysis of each player. ***
Catchers
The Cowboys lost Ian Daugherty, Beau Sylvester and Charlie Carter, so the catching room is brand new. But, they’ve replaced that with as big of a basket the exact model in recruiting that defines OSU baseball. Smithwick is a “plug and play” transfer from Ole Miss, Quinn Schambow is a Freshman and Brady Francisco is a Juco Transfer from Yavapai. It does NOT get more OSU than that!
In case you were curious, Daugherty is in pro ball, Sylvester is at Arizona and Carter transferred to Missouri State.
Smithwick swings a sweet left-handed bat and has a picture perfect path to the ball, and a well-defined 2-strike approach. He has power, and should be able to hit a lot of “gap to gap” concentrated doubles, and that, combined with what should be a bat to ball execution focus makes him an exciting player around the thumpers like Ritchie and Brueggy.
Schambow is an elite thrower, great overall defender, has a very direct swing that should lead to bat to ball and power, and a “plug and play” body and mentality.
Francisco is the smaller of the 3 but will keep the running game in check, and is NOT afraid to back pick. Francisco plays with confidence and does a great job running the game and keeps his pitchers locked in. He’s been used in “hit and run” situations and executed, so another “execution focus” type player on all fronts.
*** Click on the names of the following players to access video from scrimmage action at field level, and in depth analysis of each player. ***
Rotation
***Click on the Highlighted Name, then click latest on top for Video and in depth analysis of each pitcher. ***
The Cowboys lost 2 pitchers that both could have played both played a role in the rotation in Hunter Watkins and Matthew Brown. Huge blows, no question, but this club has some really good arms, many young, but enough veterans, to be excited about the staff.
Especially considering that Coach Hawksworth is making his debut as the Pitching Coach, and, covering the Dodgers on Dodgers Daily, the organization he played for, I can tell you, he was a Home Run. I’ve also talked pitchers that pitched for him that are in pro ball now, and they will verify that sentiment as well, so welcome Coach Hawksworth, excited to have you. Big shoes to fill, the Wizard is an OSU Baseball Hall of Famer for a reason.
Barrett will get the start on opening night against Arkansas. Barrett is a 6’5 Junior transfer from UC Santa Barbara, originally from Bakersfield with a lot of talent and experience. He’s recovering from Tommy John, so there’s not a lot out there on him, but the was a Freshman All-American in 2023, and the fact he’s getting the ball on opening night should tell you all you need to know.
Pesca has slimmed down and put his body in a position to access certain pitches and parts of the zone with greater ease, and he’s up around 93, and has kept his movement on his 2 seam and good off speed. Of course, his calling card is his “compete factor, because he’s in “I’m gonna kick your ass” mode with every pitch he throws.
Lund has the ability to be a premier pitcher in ALL of College Baseball, and that’s not my opinion. That’s what I’ve been told by folks that know a lot more about this than I do. Explosive fastball, tremendous off speed pitch metrics, big body, all the elements of a top end starter.
LeBlanc is a 6’7 JUCO transfer that is fairly new to pitching with long levers, an explosive fastball and a good slider mixed with a changeup.
Rhodes splashed onto the scene early last year showing pro execution, but then fought some injury and some typical freshman lump type issues. Dude is muy talented and has all the levers to make things look easy in terms of knocking down a bunch of scoreless innings when he gets things going.
Wech has the Brian Holiday Bulldog gene. I would NOT want to hit his 2 seam that can get in the mid 90s. Wech, like Rhodes, had his Freshman issues, and had to work through some struggles, which is a process every young player has to go through. He made it to the other side and finished last year pitching very well, and is looking to use that momentum as a spring board into 2025.
Jennings is a long lanky 6’4 Right Handed that has a wipeout breaking ball and a fastball that is already approaching 100. 4 pitch pitcher out of the IMG academy with HUGE potential.
Burns has as “HAMMER” for a slider and gives off a “cross fire” look when he delivers the ball, although he doesn’t actually cross fire. Gold Medalist on the 15U National Team, and has had tremendous success against great competition growing up. Lots of “plug and play”, not your average freshman, described as being an absolute DAWG.
Winslow is a 6’5 Freshman out of Illinois that is 91-94 with good spin. Multi sport background, so great athlete, super competitive and is concentrating on being a pitcher only for the 1st time. Which means he’ll likely make quick strides and a lot of them right off the bat.
*** Click on the names of the following players to access video from scrimmage action at field level, and in depth analysis of each player. ***
Relievers
Drew Blake and Brennan Phillips return as 2 very experienced left-handed anchors coming out of the pen. Both are very talented, but have faced their ups and downs so far in their careers, but both had GREAT off seasons. And, of course, of the pitchers that were put in the rotation section of this article, almost all of them will pitch in relief too.
The Cowboys also have several other talented pitchers that will play a role, all listed below. Click on their name to see more analysis and lots of video from scrimmage action back in the fall.
*** Click on the names of the following players, then click latest on top to access video from scrimmage action at field level, and in depth analysis of each player. ***
Gaige Albright
